Means for securing and sealing packing-cases and the like



T. H. HANSEN. MEANS FORSECURING AND SEALING PACKING CASES AND THE UKE.

APPLICATION FILED DECZ, 1919- Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

).Z/XZAEWAW UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS HENRY HANSENOF sourir vYARRA, NEAR' MELBORNE, vcroiiianusi TRALIA, AssieNon or ONE-HALF To JonN' DAvEY, orv MURBUMBENA, ,Vw

ToItIA,V AUSTRALIA. f

MEANS non sEoUniNe ANDsEALINerAcKING-cAsEs AND THE LiKE.

specification `of Letters Patent. Patnted. Api-...12,192L

Application ledviDeceniber 2, 1919. Serial No. 342,000.

' To all lwhom it may concern:

guarding the contents of packing cases and like containers, and it has been devised particularly in order to provide means for securing and sealing a packing case or container in such manner that unauthorized abstractions of the contents-vof such Vcontainer are rendered v'e'ry -di-flicult'andfwliereby such case or container may not be broached or otherwise interfered with without leaving definite external evidence thereof. l

Pilfering of goods, which are in transit, in

' store, or exposed in public places, is a constantly recurring source of loss and worry to the consignors and consignees of such goods, and the skill with which the pilfering operations are carried out renders it difficult to detect persons in the act. Furthermore, the cases from which a portion of the goods have been stolen areJ frequently received in good external order and condition, sometimes containing comparatively valueless articles or ballast.

It is an object of the present invention to provide simple and easily applied means for securely fastening and sealing cases and like containers ordinarily employed for the conveyance and storage of merchandise.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby unauthorized interference with the fastening of the case shall leave unmistakable evidence of such interference, thereby enabling a consignee to apprehend the possibility of theft and demand an inspection. The invention also provides means whereby a consignee has visible external evidence that the goods contained in the package or case received by him are the goods inserted in such package or case by the consignor, thereby affording protection to both parties.

Means are also provided whereby such fastening means may be applied rapidly and with a minimum of expense.V

`In order that the invention'm'ay be'clearly understood, reference will now be had' to the accompanying' drawings wherein :-1

Figure 1 is a perspective `viewrof a case 57 safeguarded in accordance with-the invention.

Fig.'2 is a perspective view of a protective unitconstructedin accordance with the in- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the unitshown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional Vview illustrating theA application to a case of the y i protective .unit'shown in F ig; 2.v

Fig. isa fragmentary sectional Aview illustrating the applicationto a case of the protectiveunitvr shown in Fig. 3.' In the drawings the numeral 7 designates a wooden .case such as is commonly employed for the conveyance ofmerchandise, said case being b ound by straps 8 of hoop iron. Driven into the end grain of the four sides 9 of the case at intervals are protective units 10, said units being preferably made of steel and L-shaped before driving in as is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The arm 11 of each unit 10 is longer than its base 12 and is also furnished with a slot 13. If required, a hole 14 can be formed in said base v12, for the purposes hereinafter explained. Y

In use, the units are driven edgewise into the wood of the casein such manner that the bases. 12 lie between the sides 9 and end 15 of'said case, and the outer edges 16 are approximately flush with the outer surface of said ends 15. Nails are then driven through the sides 9 and the bases 12 and into the ends 15 of the case. The straps 8 are then threaded through the slots 13 in the arms 11 of said units 10, and are tightened, the ends 17 upper portions 19 of said arms 11 are then hammered or forced over and down onto the surface of the straps 8 and one or more seals 20 are applied to the straps 8.

These seals canl be of any well-known type, such as, for example, that wherein a disk of lead is pressed around a twisted wire. In the modified form of unitI shown in Fig. 3 there is employed for thepurpose of greater security a staple 21. To accommodate this staple, a slot 22 is formed in the base 12 of the unit. The method of app1ygreat difficulties in the way of an)7 person.

attempting to ilfer its vcontents, while evidence of inter erence with such canse .would be lainl visible externally.

lhat lido claim is v l. A merchandise case protective unit comprising an L-shaped metallic member the arms of which are flat, one of said arms being adapted to be .driven edgewise into a case, the other arm having an opening for the reception of a securing device such as a nail or the like and also having a slot for the reception of a case encompassing band.

2; Means for the protection ofk a merchandise case comprising a plurality of protective units driven edgewise into said case, eX- tending Y'portions on said units, apertures in said extending portions, nailssecuringsaid units in position in said case and a band inclosing said case and passing through said apertures, substantially as described.

3. Means for the protection of a merchandise case comprising, a plurality of protective units driven edgewise into said case, each of said units havinga, base and an arm, an aperture in each of said units, a band inclosing said case `and passed through said apertures, land a portionof each ofthe arms of said units being adapted to be forced over onto said band, substantially as described.v

4. Means for the protection of a merchandise case comprising a plurality of protective units driven edgewise` into said case, eachof said units having a base and an arm, a slot in each vof said units, Y nails passed through the case material and said units, a

band inclosing said case and passed through said unit slots, a portion oif'each of the arms of said units being adapted to be forced over onto said band. and aseal attachedto and connecting the ends of said bands, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature -in presence of two witnesses. THOMAS H. HANSEN Witnesses:

JAMES H. ANDERSON, JUNE B. WILGAT SYMES. f v 

